Until yesterday (Wednesday, March 30), I considered the Minister of Transportation, Chief Rotimi Ameachi as one of the best materials among the leading contenders for the office of the President of the Federal Republic, come 2023.
He is one of just three ministers in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari that are visibly working and transforming the nation, a credit he deserves because of his competence, doggedness and aggressive approch to getting things done.
I was however disappointed when I read in the papers this morning that he urged Nigerians to contribute in paying for the hospital bills of the wounded passengers of Monday night’s Abuja-Kaduna train attack by bandits that claimed nine lives and scores still missing, presumably abducted for ransom.
This is coming, just as one of the nation’s leading dailies, the Daily Trust, reported that the Nigeria Railway Corporation that is supervised by his ministry may have played a role in the disaster for failing to heed to official warning from security agencies of an immenent attack on that beat.
The newspaper said it authoritatively gathered that “the Kaduna State Security Council and the command of the 1 Division of the Nigerian Army, Kaduna, made separate requests to the NRC to suspend the late hour shuttle between the two cities, an advisory that was however ignored.”
The minister’s call on the populace to assist in paying for the victims’ hospital bills is a smack in the face of Nigerians, considering all that is going on in the country. In advanced climes, both the minister and the managing director of the NRC would have tendered their resignation over the incident.
The request for assistance from citizens indicates that the NRC has not insured its trains and its passengers not covered even if insured, otherwise, what is the need of passing the responsibilty to the general public.
There should be no difference between air, sea and rail services by established, registered companies. They are all required to insure all operating vessels and trucks as well as their passengers.
The NRC, though owned by the federal government, is a commercial business venture that should not only be able to pay victims’ hospital bills, but must also pay compensation to the families of the nine deceased passengers.
Over all, there is an indication of clear negligence by the NRC and its parent ministry, arising from non-cooperation with the critical security sector agencies and other relevant government institutions.
President Buhari must not allow the incident to be swept under the carpet. Those at the top must face disciplinary action so that all others should wake up to their responsibilities. Heads must roll!
- Iyawa is Nigeria’s former ambassador to Mexico
